Both Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly agree that the new redshirt rule that enables players to play in as many as four games without being penalized a year of eligibility is a good thing, but it hasn’t dramatically altered their approach.

Still, both teams could benefit from the new rule when they meet in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29.

Clemson linebacker James Skalski and Notre Dame defensive tackle Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa each could play in the College Football Playoff after missing all but one game this season because of injury.

“This new rule really hasn’t changed the landscape, but maybe it gives you a little more inventory on special teams here and there, but by in large it has been a good rule.”

Skalski also could have a postseason impact.

A junior who had 37 tackles in 2017, Skalski is a potential starter for the Tigers. He made a tackle for every 6.7 snaps last year – the third-best figure on the team.

“He’s a veteran player, played as a true freshman, played as a true sophomore,” Swinney said. “He’s a really good player, but broke a toe and was going to miss some time.”

In his lone game this season, Skalski had six tackles in only 23 snaps in the Tigers’ 49-21 win at Georgia Tech on Sept. 22.

But after his injury, Skalski was all for getting a year back.

“It was something he wanted to do as well,” Swinney said. “So now he’s green-lighted for two more games. It’s kind of a big shot in the arm to be able to get a guy like that in the postseason because of this rule change.”

Swinney agreed with Kelly that his approach didn’t change that much, but there could be sizeable benefits.

“We’ve always had the same thing – we’re going to play this guy, this guy’s on the bubble, this guy’s definitely going to redshirt,” Swinney said. “But we want to give everybody the same opportunity, and this year we were able to play every freshman.”

Alabama coach Nick Saban agreed.

“I think you still have the same categories, but you have a lot more flexibility on when you have to make those decisions,” Saban said. “I just hope this doesn’t become something that players try to utilize to manipulate their career, and that they always put the team first.”